Game device



Jan. 9, 1934.

w. L. NELSON GAME DEVICE Filed July 21, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In V67? Zar Z/Y/z'awzf. JQZAW? 5y 6% dizornega.

W. L. NELSON Jail. 9, 1934.

GAME DEVI CE 2 Shees-Sheet 2 Filed July 21, 1932 g j W J71 V672 for Zfz'Z/zdm f. i e/50?? @Qa Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UETE STAS GAME DEVICE of Illinois Application July 21, 1932. Serial No. 623,717

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a game and particularly to a game of the type in which a counter, such as a ball, disc or other generally analogous object, is moved, released or projected upon a playing surface across which it is generally free to move and in combination with which a player controlled guiding and striking element may be used so that the player may learn to control and to guide the movement of the counter.

Another object is to provide in connection with such a game device, in which gravity is eiiective for moving a counter across a field, player controlled means adapted to be used to modify and control the course of the counter. Another object of the invention is to provide, in connection with a game, in which a counter is released or projected upon a surface across which it can move by reason of the shape or inclination of the surface, means for striking, guiding and shooting the counter.

Another object is to provide in connection with a device of the type indicated, deflectors which may or may not be of spring material and which serve in playing more or less like the sides of a billiard table, so that the player, by means of the control device, may guide or shoot'the counter against the deflectors to make what may be called billiard shots.

. Other objects will appear from time to time in the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure l is a plan view of a game device;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section at line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating a number of possible shots;

Figure 4 is a plan View of a modified form of the playing field surface;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a further modified form.

Like parts are designated by like characters throughout the specification and drawings.

The device or" this invention is housed in a casing which is indicated generally by the letter A. As shown it is more or less in the shape of a rectangular box having sides and a bottom, and enclosed at the top with glass or other transparent cover A which may be carried in a removable lid. or frame A which is fastened to the box or housing A in any suitable manner. Positioned on the inside of the housing A are one or more spacing and supporting members A arranged to sup- 55 port the playing field portion which will be described below. A is a spacing and supporting member mounted on the housing A.

The playing field constitutes an assembly having an upper and a lower level. The upper level is indicated at B and the lower level at B There may be formed in the lower level B a plurality of guiding slots, channels or passages B which are of different lengths and shapes but which all terminate in a series or" generally parallel portions as indicated at B Positioned adjacent the member B and in continuation of and in communication with the portions 13 is a member B formed into a plurality of preferably parallel pockets by the dividing or spacing members B The upper level B forms the actual playing field. It has a plurality of holes or openings B through it, which may be of different sizes and shapes. These openings may be positioned at any suitable position throughout the surface of the field. Each is positioned above one of the guide slots B so that a counter falling through any one of the openings 13 will be received in a guide slot 13 and by it guided to the portion B and into a pocket. Curved, fixed guiding members B B may be mounted upon or mounted so adjacent the playing field B. As shown such guiding portions are mounted at the right hand of Figure 1. Another guiding portion '13 may be mounted at the opposite end of the playing field. As shown in the particular form of the invention 35 illustrated herewith, the member B is formed into a pair of symmetrically curved portions B which have between them a reduced curved portion B within which one of the holes B is positioned. The member B is also cut away, preierably at one side, as at B to provide a passage through which a counter may be introduced, as will be described below.

There may be provided upon the playing field B a plurality of baiiles, either yielding, in the form of spring members, or fixed, or partially yielding and partially fixed. As illustrated in Figure 1, a yielding spring member 0 is mounted on the member B and extends wholly or partial- 1y across the passage B so that it must be deflected as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1 to permit the introduction of the counter. This baffle C thus lies in the first portion of the normal path of entrance of the counter. Farther along on the field and in the normal path of the counter is another spring bafile C which normally extends into the path of the counter and toward or against the wall of the frame and may be deflected as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1 by the counter as it moves along the side of the field. C is another spring baflie which may be mounted generally along the center line of the field and having one end adjacent the boundary of the field so that a counter in moving along the boundary and past the baffle C must be deflected as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. A number of other bafiles C C may be positioned elsewhere about the field and they may be of any suitable size or construction. As i lustrated herewith they are generally all about the same size or shape and are placed symmetrically on the field. A portion C is joined to the bafiie C and in effect forms a continuation of it so that the composite bafile C C is substantially the same in size and shape as the corresponding baiile C placed opposite it on the other side of the field. The baffles shown herein are all formed of spring material. They might be formed otherwise, of any desired material and of any desired shape. They might be entirely unyielding. A convenient means for attaching the bafiies to the field is shown particularly in Figure 2. As there shown the baiiie C is provided with a pair of lugs C These are preferably pointed as shown and given a shape more or less similar to that of an arrow head. In being placed in position originally in the board they may be driven directly into it, or holes of suitable size may be bored and the pointed lugs driven into these holes. By reason of the arrow head shape, they tend to retain their position in the board and to prevent accidental displacement. Other baflles may be placed on the board and as shown more or less U-shaped baffles C are placed in some cases about the several holes 13 Some of the holes do not have such baiiies about them in the form of the invention shown herewith. Each of the baffles C and C preferably has made integrally with it lugs C such as those described in connection with the baffle C by means of which they are attached to the board.

Mounted within the housing and above the field B and beneath the glass A is a guiding and impelling member comprising preferably a shaft or rod D having a handle D and carrying a plurality of baifie guiding members D These members may be of spring material and are fastened to the shaft D and extend from it in a direction to bring them into the path of the counter as it moves over the field. The shaft D is slotted as at D and engages a screw D which is mounted in a pin or upwardly projecting member D which is carried in and supported by the field B. The pin D may be reduced adjacent its upper end as shown in Figure 2, and a cushioning member D surrounds it, which member may be of rubber or other similar material, Projecting downwardly from the shaft D is a pair of baiiles or stops D arranged to contact the pin D or the rubber D upon it, to limit the sliding movement of the shaft D with respect to the pin. A short and preferably rigid bafile D may be mounted on the under side of the shaft D. D is a stop member which may be mounted on the shaft D to extend downwardly below to its outward movement with respect to the housing. The shaft D adjacent its outer end passes through a shutter member D which is mounted in a groove D in one of the members of the frame A. The shutter is shorter than the groove and thus may move along it to permit swinging movement of the shaft D as indicated in dotted lines in Figure l. The slot D in the shaft permits the shaft to be moved in and out.

Counters E may be used. As shown they are balls, although almost any other form of counter might be used.

Some form of mechanism for raising and moving or projecting the counters onto the playing field is necessary. Any suitable form may be used in connection with my device. As shown there is an impeller F which comprises a pivoted lever. It is shown in its upright position in Figures 1 and 2. The plunger F actuated by a handle F is used to depress the propelling lever F. Any suitable form of mechanism of this sort may be used. The one here shown is not described in detail herewith as it forms no essential part of the invention, and for my device it is sinficient that same means is provided for moving or impelling the counters. In ordinary operation, the plunger is depressed and carries with it the lever F which moves downward from the position shown in Figure 2 and picks up one of the counters E, raising the counter and moving or shooting it onto the playing field.

In Figure 3 there is shown diagrammatically the playing field and a number of possible shots upon it. The counter having been released or projected upon the playing field, comes in contact with any of the battles D of the controlling member D. It will be noticed in Figures 1 and 3 that the baiiles which are fixed on the playing field, excepting those about the holes, are inclined downwardly and inwardly from the outer border toward the center of the field. While this is not essential, it has proven very satisfactory because, no matter how hard the counter is projected and no matter how rapidly it moved, the fixed baiiies tend almost always to direct it sooner or later toward the center of the field, and thus into the zone in which the player controlled guiding and striking element may be moved to guide and strike the counter. Therefore, in making the device, it is preferable to position the baiiles which are mounted upon the playing field so that some or all of them tend to direct the counter toward the zone in which the player controlled guide can strike or guide the counter according to the will of the operator. Of course, this arrangement is not essential and the bafiles may be given any other arrangement desired. For some purposes the bafiles might be entirely omitted. As shown in Figure 3, in which a number of shots are illustrated in dotted lines, the counter may be struck by and deflected from either the upper or lower side of any of the baflies upon the player controlled member and the counter, of course, may contact any side of any of the bafiies which are mounted in the playing field.

In Figure i the player controlled member has only a single baffle and there are only two relatively small bafiles on the field. In Figure 5 the holes have been omitted and in their stead a series of pockets G is formed at the lower end of the board. The modifications of Figures 4 and 5 are merely illustrative of the fact that almost an infinite number of modified constructions can be made embodying the idea of a player controlled member by means of which the counter may be struck or guided.

It will be realized that whereas I have herewith shown or described a practical operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention and I wish, therefore, that my showing be taken as in a sense diagrammatic.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

In general, the playing field is inclined. While I have shown a plane field, it need not be plane, and a curved, dished, partially spherical, hollowed or irregularly shaped field might be used. Whatever the shape of the field, some means is provided for moving, releasing or projecting a counter so that it comes upon the field. The field is so shaped or positioned that the counter will tend, usually by gravity, to move along, across or upon the field and will come sooner or later in contact with the player controlled element. When this occurs the player may guide or strike the counter so as to move it as he wishes and as shown in Figure 3 he may make so-called billiard shots, and if sufiiciently skillful may cause the counter to move where he wishes. Sooner or later he either moves the counter into the pocket or space or along the path which he desires or else the counter escapes him and falls through an opening or into a pocket or in some way passes out of play and when the player has played with all of the counters available, the game may be said to be finished.

I claim:

1. In a game device, a member defining an inclined playing surface, means for moving a counter to the upper end of said surface whereby it may move along the surface from top to bottom, obstructions on said surface, and a player controlled counter guiding member movably mounted adjacent said surface, means whereby said guiding member can be moved along and across said surface in rotary and sliding movement.

2. In a game device, a member defining an inclined playing surface, a counter for movement along said surface, points of objective on said surface for said counter, a resilient counter-deflecting element mounted adjacent said surface, a player controlled counter-deflecting member movably mounted adjacent said surface, said resilient counter-deflecting element and said counter-defiecting member being formed and positioned in co-operative relation for deflecting said counter into various directions of movement so as to bring said counter to one of said points of objective.

WILLIAM L. NELSON. 

